Steam surface condenser.



PATENTED MAR. 10, 1903.

J. R. RICHMOND. STEAM SURFACE CONDENSER.

- 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

APPLICATION FILED JULY ll, 1902.-

NO MODEL.

w/ TNESS No. 722,627. PATENTED MAR. 10, 1903.

J-. R. RICHMOND.

STEAM SURFACE CONDENSER.

APPLICATION IILED JULY 11, 1902. N0 MODEL. v 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

V7 n v I WITNESSES. v lA/l/ENTOR x PATENTED MAR. 10, 1903.

. J. R. RICHMOND. STEAM SURFACE CONDENSER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 11, 1902.

N0 MODEL. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- WITNESSES.

ms uonms Prrzas co. Puo'ro-Lrrna. wAs'hmoTom-u. c.

UNITED STATES PAT NT Fries.

STEAM SURFACE CONDENSER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 722,627, dated March 10, 1903.

Application filed July 11, 1902. Serial No. 115,206. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN RITCHIE RICH- MOND, a subject of His Majesty the King of Great Britain, residing at Glasgow, Scotland, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Steam Surface Condensers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in steam surface condensers wherein the steam enters a chamber containing a series of tubes through which the cooling-water passes, the I object of the invention being to secure the more equable distribution of steam over the cooling-surfaces of the tubes, to diminish the impact and consequent vibration due to the delivery of steam at each stroke of the engine, and to secure a higher vacuum without unduly cooling the water of condensation.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one form of my invention, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a condenser. Fig. 2 is a vertical section on line a; a; of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section on line y y, Fig. 2, with some of the tubes removed. Fig. 4 is a section on line 2 .2, Fig. 1.

Similarletters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The condenser consists of a vertical cylinder or chamber at, having a chamber 1) at,its upper end and a chamber at the base, the latter being divided into two compartments 0 and d, arranged around a central passage 8, each of which compartments is again partially divided by vertical diaphragms e 6. Communication is established between the compartments 0 d and chamber 19 by means of two series or groups of condensing-tubes f and 9, Fig. 3, each group or series being again divided by the vertical walls 15 of the chamber a. These walls t may be plates only; but they are shown in box form, for the reason that in large condensers the tube-plates are made in quarters. This necessitates the bolting of the tube-plates where they come together, and thus passages would be left up 1 which the steam would rush, and it is in order to fill up these spaces that the Walls are formed asboxes. The compartment cof the lower chamber has a flanged opening m, a similar opening n being provided for the compartment (Z. The steam-inlet pipe 19 enters the condenser and passes through chamber 17 and extends down parallel to the series or groups of tubes fg a considerable distance into the interior of the chamber a and carries a diaphragm or baffle-plate h at its inner end, through which the groups of tubes pass, a second similar plate 2' being secured to the wall of chamber a at a suitable distance above the plate h to compel the steam to take a course as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 2.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: The circulating water enters the compartment c of the lower chamber by the mouth m, thepartition e equalizing the rush of water over the chamber. The water then rises through the series or groups of tubes f, above the compartment 0, into the circulating-chamber b, from whence it passes down the second series or group gof tubes into the compartment (1 and out by the outlet at. The direction of flow is indicated in Fig. 1, from which the condensing-tubes have been omitted. The steam from the engine enters the condenser by the pipe 19, and is thus thrown down well into the chamber a, and in passing upward is compelled to pass among the condensing-tubes. Having passed the diaphragm 72, it is again deflected by diaphragm '5, taking a course as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 2. The water of condensation passes out by an outlet shown in passage 8, or, if passage 3 is closed at the top, by an outlet in the side of chamber a.

The construction described is specially applicable where the air from the condenser is withdrawn by a separate dry-air pump and the Water of condensation by a separate condensed-water pump, as the latter water can be taken off at a high temperature and the air at a comparatively low temperature. This result is obtained by reason of the steam when entering the condenser being carried well down into chamber a by the pipe 19 into the lower part of the condenser, from which the condensed water is drawn relatively warm to the rest of the apparatus, while the top portion of the shell from which the air is drawn off by the pump is comparatively cool.

Although shown vertical, the'condenser may also be arranged horizontally if the water of condensation is drawn off from the lowest part of the shell and (where a dry-air pump is used) the air is taken off at the opposite extremity.

What I claim is- 1. In a steam surface condenser, and in combination, groups of tubes for the circulating water, a steam-inlet pipe passing a considerable distance into such groups and parallel to same,a chamber inclosin g such groups, and a baffle-plate attached to the end of such pipe and extending transversely across said circulating-tubes for distributing the vsteam around the same.

2. The combination with a steam surface condenser provided with a condensing-chamber and Water-circulating tubes therein, ot' a centrally-disposed steam-inlet pipe extending a considerable distance longitudinally of said tubes, a battle-plate on the end of said pipe extending outwardly transversely across said groups of circulating-tubes, and a second centrally-apertured baffle-plate secured to the wall of said condensing-chamber and extending inwardly transversely of said tubes.

3. In a steam surface condenser, and in combination groups of tubes for the circulating water, a steam-inlet pipe passing a considerable distance into such groups and parallel to same, achamber inclosing such groups, a baffle-plate carried on the end of the steaminlet pipe, a baffle-plate carried by the wall of the chamber, a cooling-water-circulating chamber above such groups, and two chambers below such groups having inlet and outlet openings for the cooling-water respectively.

4. The combination with a steam surface condenser provided with a condensing-chamber and water-circulating tubes therein, of a water-chamber at one end of said condensingchamber forming a communicating passage between said tubes, a communicating chamber at the other end of said tubes having inlet and outlet pipes, a cruciform partition in said last-mentioned chamber, two of the walls of which extend in proximity to said inlet and outlet pipes for forming deflector-surfaces, and a steam-inlet pipe for said condensingchamber.

5. The combination with a steam surface condenser provided with a condensing-chamberand water-circulating tubes therein, of a centrally-disposed steam-inlet pipe for said condensing-chamber extending a considerable distance longitudinally of said tubes, 21 baffle-plate on the end of said pipe extending transversely across said groups of tubes, a water-chamber at one end of said condensingchamber forming a communicating passage between said tubes, at communicating chamber at the other end of said tubes having inlet and outlet pipes, a cruciform partition in said last-mentioned chamber, two of the walls of which extend in proximity to said inlet and outlet pipes for forming deflector-surfaces.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

JOHN RITCHIE RICHMOND.

Witnesses:

JOHN CRAIG, JAMES D. IMRIE. 

